INS Vikrant (IAC-1)

Construction of India’s first home-built carrier, INS Vikrant (“courageous”), also known as Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 1 (IAC-1) is well under way. Designed by the Directorate of Naval Design of the Indian Navy, it is the first warship to be built by Cochin Shipyard in Kerala, India.

INS Vikrant, 2013

Approximately 83% of the fabrication work and 75% of the construction work had been completed at the time of launching, and 90% of the body of the vessel has been designed and made in India.

INS Vikrant in-build at Cochin Shipyard, 2015.

Tex Special Projects and Pratex Power Vision Pvt Ltd – India’s leading supplier of marine glazing solutions – are designing and project managing the installation of the ultra-high specification glazing, frames and ancillaries. INS Vikrant will benefit from the various technological advances offered by Tex Maxiview Tempest Glazing, winner of the BAE Systems Innovation Award for unique control room glass.

INS Vikrant moving out for fitting, 2015.

Tex Special Projects have recently completed work on the second of two giant carriers for the UK, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. Unlike most aircraft carriers, the QEC carriers have two islands (towers); the forward (bridge) houses the ship’s navigation and the aft is the flying control room, dubbed FLYCO, designed and project managed by Tex Special Projects. Within the FLYCO, supersized, floor-to-ceiling windows give the crew an unparalleled view of the flight deck, and elsewhere on the ship, Tex Maxiview Tempest Glazing protects the vessel from blast and electromagnetic interference.

Royal Navy aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth.

The Indian Navy and the Royal Navy have formed the Carrier Capability Partnership, with the aim of developing joint capabilities and assisting India’s carrier programme, and in March ’19, the commander and the highest-ranking officer in the Indian Navy, Admiral Sunil Lanba was welcomed aboard the HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Chief of the Indian Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba and The Chief of Naval Staff, The First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Philip Jones KCB ADC RN on the bridge of HMS Queen Elizabeth, HMNB Portsmouth.

Defence giant BAE Systems have hosted several Indian Navy delegations and reportedly offered to license the UK carrier design to the Indian Navy.